It has been suggested that Autonomous administrative division#List of major autonomous areas be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2024.
Countries with at least one autonomous area

This list of autonomous areas arranged by country gives an overview of autonomous areas of the world. An autonomous area is defined as an area of a country that has a degree of autonomy, or has freedom from an external authority. It is typical for it to be geographically distant from the country, or to be populated by a national minority. Countries that include autonomous areas are often federacies.[1] The autonomous areas differ from federal units and independent states in the sense that they, in relation to the majority of other sub-national territories in the same country, enjoy a special status including some legislative powers, within the state (for a detailed list of federated units, see federated state).[2]

This list includes areas that are internationally recognized, as well as some that are generally unrecognized.[A][B] The definition of an autonomous area varies from country to country, so the native term as defined by the respective country's government is listed, and the English translation of the term is included.

Autonomous areas

Created by international agreements

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the treaty and year(s) indicated, if available) References
 China (PRC) 特別行政區 (Chinese, an official language of both Hong Kong and Macau)
região administrativa especial (Portuguese, another official language of Macau)
special administrative region (English, another official language of Hong Kong) 		 Hong Kong (1997) [C][3]
 Macao (1999) [D] [4] 		[5]
 Finland itsehallinnollinen maakunta (Finnish)
självstyrande landskap (Swedish)
autonomous province 		 Åland (1922) [E] [6][7] [8]
 United Kingdom UK constituent country with devolution Northern Ireland (1999) [F] [9]
 Italy autonome Provinz (German)
provincia autonoma (Italian)
autonomous province 		 South Tyrol (1946, 1972) [G] [10]
 Israel /  Palestine "سلطة الحكم الذاتي الفلسطينية المؤقتة" (Arabic)
"Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority"
הסמכות המינהלית הפלסטינית (Hebrew)
interim administrative authority 		 Palestinian National Authority (1994) [H]  · Gaza Strip and West Bank [I] [11][12]

Notes:

Created by internal statutes

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) References
 Antigua and Barbuda autonomous island Barbuda (1976) [18]
 Azerbaijan muxtar respublika
autonomous republic 		Nakhchivan (1924) [19][20]
 Chile Provincias de Chile y Comuna de Chile
province and communes 		 Easter Island [21]
Comuna de Chile
communes 		Juan Fernández Islands [22]
 China (PRC) 自治区 (zìzhìqū)
autonomous region 		Guangxi (1958)  · Inner Mongolia (1947)  · Ningxia (1958)  · Xinjiang (1955)  · Tibet (1965) [5]
自治州 (zìzhìzhōu)
autonomous prefecture 		Bayingolin  · Bortala  · Changji  · Chuxiong  · Dali  · Dehong  · Dêqên  · Enshi  · Gannan  · Garzê  · Golog  · Yushu  · Haibei  · Hainan  · Haixi  · Honghe  · Huangnan  · Ili  · Kizilsu  · Liangshan  · Linxia  · Ngawa  · Nujiang  · Qiandongnan  · Qiannan  · Qianxinan  · Wenshan  · Xiangxi  · Xishuangbanna (Sibsongbanna)  · Yanbian [5]
自治县 (zìzhìxiàn)
autonomous county 		117 (full list) [5]
自治旗 (zìzhìqí)
autonomous banner 		Evenki  · Morin Dawa  · Oroqen [5]
 Denmark autonomous territory
(Danish Realm) 		 Faroe Islands (1948)  ·  Greenland (1979) [8]
 Fiji autonomous region Rotuma Rotuma (1927) [23]
 France sui generis collectivité
sui generis collectivity 		 New Caledonia (1999) [24]
collectivité d'outre-mer
overseas collectivity 		 Saint Barthélemy (2007)  · Saint Martin (2007)  ·  Saint Pierre and Miquelon (2003)  ·  Wallis and Futuna (2003)
pays d'outre-mer
overseas country 		 French Polynesia (2004)
 Georgia avtonomiuri respublika
autonomous republic 		Abkhazia (1991-2008) [J] [K] ·  Adjara (1991) [25]
provisional administrative entity South Ossetia South Ossetia (2007-2008) [J] [26]
 Greece aftonomi monastiki politia
autonomous monastic state 		Mount Athos (1913) [27]
 India autonomous districts and territorial councils Bodoland (2003)  · Bodo Kachari (2020)  · Chakma (1972)  · Chandel (1971)  · Churachandpur (1971)  · Deori (2005)  · Dima Hasao (1970)  · Garo Hills (1952)  · Gorkhaland (2011)  · Jaintia Hills (1972)  · Kamatapur (2020)  · Karbi Anglong (1970)  · Kargil Hills (1995)  · Khasi Hills (1952)  · Lai (1972)  · Leh Hills (1995)  · Senapati (1971)  · Mara (1972)  · Matak (2020)  · Mising (1995)  · Moran (2020)  · Rabha Hasong (1995)  · Sadar Hills (1971)  · Sonowal Kachari (2005)  · Tamenglong (1971)  · Thengal Kachari (2005)  · Tiwa (1995)  · Tripura Tribal Areas (1982)  · Ukhrul (1971) and de facto autonomous area – North Sentinel Island (1956) [28]
 Indonesia daerah istimewa/khusus
special region 		Yogyakarta (1950)  ·  Aceh (2005)  ·  Jakarta (2024)
daerah otonomi khusus
special autonomous region 		Central Papua (2022)  · Highland Papua (2022)  ·  Papua (2000)  · South Papua (2022)  · Southwest Papua (2022)  ·  West Papua (2008)
 Iraq autonomous region Kurdistan Region Kurdistan Region (1992) [29]
 Italy regione autonoma
autonomous region 		 Aosta Valley (1948)  ·  Friuli-Venezia Giulia (1963)  ·  Sardinia (1948)  ·  Sicily (1946)  ·  Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (1948) [8]`
provincia autonoma
autonomous province 		 South Tyrol (1972)  ·  Trentino (1972)
 Mauritius autonomous island  Rodrigues (2002) [30]
 Moldova unitate teritorială autonomă
autonomous territorial unit 		 Găgăuzia (1995)  · Left Bank of the Dniester (2005) [8]
 Myanmar self-administered zones Danu Self-Administered Zone  · Kokang Self-Administered Zone  · Naga Self-Administered Zone  · Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone  · Pa-O Self-Administered Zone  · Wa Self-Administered Division (2011)
 Nicaragua región autónoma
autonomous region 		North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (1986)  · South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (1986) [31]
 Pakistan self-governing entity Azad Kashmir Azad Kashmir (1974)
 Panama comarca indígena
indigenous territory 		Emberá-Wounaan (1983) · Guna de Madungandí (1996)  · Kuna de Wargandí (2000)  · Guna Yala (1938) · Ngöbe-Buglé (1997)  · Naso Tjër Di Comarca (2020) [32]
 Papua New Guinea autonomous region  Bougainville (2000) [33]
 Philippines rehiyong awtonomus
autonomous region 		 Bangsamoro (2019) [34]
 Portugal região autónoma
autonomous region 		 Azores (1976)  ·  Madeira (1976) [8]
 Russia respublika
(autonomous) republic 		 Adygea ·  Altai Republic ·  Bashkortostan ·  Buryatia ·  Chechnya ·  Chuvashia ·  Republic of Crimea[L] ·  Dagestan ·  Donetsk[L] ·  Ingushetia ·  Kabardino-Balkaria ·  Kalmykia ·  Karachay-Cherkessia ·  Karelia ·  Khakassia ·  Komi ·  Luhansk[L] ·  Mari El ·  Mordovia ·  North Ossetia-Alania ·  Sakha Republic ·  Tatarstan ·  Tuva ·  Udmurtia [8]
avtonomnaya oblast
autonomous province 		 Jewish Autonomous Oblast (1934) [8]
avtonomny okrug
autonomous district 		 Chukotka ·  Khanty-Mansi ·  Nenets ·  Yamalo-Nenets [8]
 Saint Kitts and Nevis autonomous island  Nevis (1967) [35]
 São Tomé and Príncipe região autónoma
autonomous region 		Autonomous Region of Príncipe (1995) [36]
 Serbia autonomna pokrajina
autonomous province 		Vojvodina (1945) · Kosovo and Metohija (1945-1999) [M]
 Somalia dowlad goboleedka ee
federal state 		 Galmudug (2012) ·  Hirshabelle (2016) ·  Jubaland (2013)[N] ·  Khatumo[O] (2023) ·  Puntland (1998) ·  South West State of Somalia (2014) ·  Somaliland [P] [37]
 South Korea teukbyeol jachido
special autonomous province 		Gangwon (2023) · Jeju (2006) · Jeonbuk (2023) [38]
 Tajikistan viloyat mukhtor
autonomous province 		Gorno-Badakhshan (1925) [39]
 Tanzania Serikali ya Mapinduzi Zanzibar
revolutionary government 		 Zanzibar (1964) [40]
 Trinidad and Tobago autonomous island Tobago (1980)
 Ukraine avtonomna respublika
autonomous republic 		 Crimea (1992–2014) [L]
 United Kingdom UK constituent country with devolution  Scotland (1999)  ·  Wales (1999) Northern Ireland (1998) [8]
Regions with devolution  Greater London (2000)
 Uzbekistan respublika
(autonomous) republic 		 Karakalpakstan

Dependent and associated territories with autonomy

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year(s) indicated, if available) References
 Netherlands autonoom land
autonomous country 		 Aruba (1986) ·  Curaçao (2010) ·  Sint Maarten (2010)
 New Zealand state in free-association  Cook Islands (1965) ·  Niue (1974)
self-administering territory  Tokelau (1948) [24]
 United Kingdom Crown Dependency  Guernsey  ·  Isle of Man ·  Jersey [8]
British Overseas Territory  Anguilla  ·  Bermuda  ·  British Virgin Islands  ·  Cayman Islands  ·  Falkland Islands  ·  Gibraltar  ·  Montserrat [8]
 United States Commonwealth  Puerto Rico (1952)  ·  Northern Mariana Islands (1978) [41]
Territory  Guam (1950)  ·  US Virgin Islands (1954)  ·  American Samoa (1967)

All sub-national regions are autonomous

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Bolivia departamento
(autonomous) department 		Beni (2006)  · Pando (2006)  · Santa Cruz (2006)  · Tarija (2006)  · La Paz (2009)  · Cochabamba (2009)  · Chuquisaca (2009) · Oruro (2009) · Potosi (2009) [42]
provincia autónoma
autonomous province 		Gran Chaco (2009) [43]
municipio autónomo
autonomous municipality 		Huacaya · Tarabuco · Mojocoya · Charazani · Jesús de Machaca · Pampas Aullagas · San Pedro de Totora · Chipaya · Salinas de Garci Mendoza · Chayanta · Charagua [44]
territorio indígena
indigenous territory 		All native community lands (tierras comunitarias de origen): Asamblea del Pueblo Guaraní, Central de Pueblos Nativos Guarayos, Central de Pueblos Indigenas del Beni, Central Indigena de la Region Amazonica de Bolivia, Central Indigena de Pueblos Amazonicos de Pando, Central de Pueblos Indigenas del Tropico de Cochabamba, Central de Pueblos Indigenas de La Paz, Organizacion de la Capitania Wehenayek Tapiete.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina entitet
entity 		Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (1995)  ·  Republika Srpska (1995) [45]
 Comoros île autonome
autonomous island 		 Anjouan (2002)  · Grande Comore (2002)  ·  Mohéli (2002) [46]
 Guernsey Jurisdiction  Alderney  ·  Sark (1565) [47]
 Spain comunidad autónoma (in Spanish)[48]
autonomia erkidegoa (in Basque)[49]
comunautat autonòma (in Occitan)[50]
comunitat autònoma (in Catalan/Valencian)[51]
comunidade autónoma (in Galician)[52]
autonomous community
(nationalities and regions of Spain) 		 Andalusia (1981)  ·  Aragon (1982)  ·  Asturias (1981)  ·  Balearic Islands (1983)  ·  Basque Country (1979)  ·  Canary Islands (1982)  ·  Cantabria (1981)  ·  Castile–La Mancha (1982)  ·  Castile and León (1983)  ·  Catalonia (1979)  ·  Extremadura (1983)  ·  Galicia (1981)  ·  La Rioja (1982)  ·  Madrid (1983)  ·  Murcia (1982)  ·  Navarre (1982)  ·  Valencian Community (1982) [8]
ciudad autónoma
autonomous city 		 Ceuta (1995)  ·  Melilla (1995) [8]
Entitat territorial autònoma
Autonomous territorial entity 		 Val d'Aran (1990) [8]

Other entities called "autonomous"

A number of entities are also officially called "autonomous", though they do not have an exceptional freedom from external authority, and would not fall under the definition of autonomous area. They are listed here for clarity.

Capitals called "autonomous"

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Mexico autonomous city Mexico City (2016) [53]
 Argentina ciudad autónoma
autonomous city 		Buenos Aires Buenos Aires (1994) [54]
 Armenia autonomous city Yerevan Yerevan
 Belarus autonomous city Minsk Minsk
 Cambodia krong
autonomous municipality 		Phnom Penh [Q] [55]
 Central African Republic commune autonome
autonomous commune 		Bangui [56]
 Guinea-Bissau sector autónomo
autonomous sector 		Bissau Region [57]
 Hungary autonomous city Budapest Budapest
 Indonesia daerah khusus ibukota
special capital region 		Jakarta [58]
 Romania autonomous municipality Bucharest
 Serbia autonomous city Belgrade Belgrade
 Uzbekistan shahar
autonomous city 		Tashkent (1918) [59]
 United Kingdom Sui generis City  City of London

Independent cities called "autonomous"

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Japan 村落共同体
village community 		Atarashiki (1948)
 South Korea 특별자치시
special autonomous city 		Sejong
 Cambodia krong
autonomous municipality 		Phnom Penh · Sihanoukville · Pailin · Kep [55]

Self-declared entities called "autonomous"

Country Native term
Translation or equivalent 		Instances (areas became autonomous in the year indicated, if available) References
 Mexico Municipios Autónomos
Autonomous Municipalities 		Rebel Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities (2020-2023)
 Syria Rêveberiya Xweser
Autonomous Administration 		Autonomous Administration of North and East SyriaAutonomous Administration of North and East Syria (2012)
 Bolivia Federación de Juntas Vecinales
Federation of Neighborhood Councils 		Fejuve (1979)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ For example: "China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". United Nations. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  2. ^ See International recognition of Kosovo for states that do and do not recognize the Republic of Kosovo.
  3. ^ Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984
  4. ^ 'Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration of 1987
  5. ^ Åland convention
  6. ^ Good Friday Agreement (1998)
  7. ^ Gruber–De Gasperi Agreement (1946)
  8. ^ Oslo Accords (1993)
  9. ^ Oslo II Accord (1995)
  10. ^ a b De facto, Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared independence from Georgia, but de jure they are still part of Georgia
  11. ^ The flag of Abkhazia shown is the proposed flag of the Georgian government from 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d Claimed by Ukraine and considered by most of the international community to be part of Ukraine.
  13. ^ Since 1999, it hasn't been under the direct control of Serbia. It became an "entity under interim international administration" and disputed territory.
  14. ^ Proclaimed autonomous in 2011
  15. ^ Officially known as the SSC-Khaatumo Administration
  16. ^ Claimed but uncontrolled, as the territory is administered by the de facto independent Republic of Somaliland; its independence has not been recognised internationally
  17. ^ along with Independent cities called "autonomous"


References

  1. ^ Lucas I. González (11 February 2008). "Political Power, Fiscal Crises, and Decentralization in Latin America: Federal Countries in Comparative Perspective (and some Contrasts with Unitary Cases)". Publius: The Journal of Federalism. 38 (2). Oxford University Press: 211–247. doi:10.1093/publius/pjn001.
  2. ^ Olausson, Pär M. (2007) Autonomy and Islands: A Global Study of the Factors that Determine Island Autonomy, Turku: Åbo Akademi University Press, pp. 21–25
  3. ^ "The Joint Declaration (and following pages)". Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau, The Government of the HKSAR. 1 July 2007.
  4. ^ "Joint declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and The Government of the Republic of Portugal on the question of Macao". io.gov.mo.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Provinces of China". Statoids. 26 June 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  6. ^ (in French) Edouard Gourdon, Histoire du Congrès de Paris, Paris, 1857, full text at google Print
  7. ^ Later confirmated by the Act on the Autonomy of Åland of 1920 (which was later replaced by new legislations by the same name in 1951 and 1991) and the League of Nations in 1922 following the Åland crisis.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Benedikter, Thomas (19 June 2006). "The working autonomies in Europe". Society for Threatened Peoples. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  9. ^ "Agreement reached in the multi-party negotiations" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  10. ^ "Accordo Degasperi-Gruber".
  11. ^ "Area C and the future of Palestinian economy" (PDF). World Bank. Retrieved 7 September 2015.
  12. ^ 1995 Oslo Interim Agreement. Text of the Accord
  13. ^ "Treaty concerning the Archipelago of Spitsbergen, and Protocol [1925] ATS 10". austlii.edu.au.
  14. ^ Article 6 of Council Directive 2006/112/EC of 28 November 2006 (as amended) on the common system of value added tax (OJ L 347, 11 December 2006, p. 1) Eur-lex.europa.eu.
  15. ^ NM Currency Converter. "Currency converter Swiss Franc, CHF". nm-devises.com.
  16. ^ It is legal tender in Campione d'Italia
  17. ^ "2.1.2 Erhebungsgebiet". admin.ch. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Barbuda Local Government Act of 1976" (PDF).
  19. ^ "Regions and territories: Nagorno-Karabakh". BBC News. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  20. ^ Treaty of Moscow (1921) and Treaty of Kars (1921)
  21. ^ "Easter Islands now a "special territory" with more autonomy".
  22. ^ "Constitucional act granting special status of Easter Island and Juan Fernández Islands. As the special charter is being discussed, they remain being governed as provinces of the Valparaíso Region". Archived from the original on 30 August 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  23. ^ "Rotuma Act". Laws of Fiji (1978 ed.). Suva, Fiji: Government of Fiji. 1927. Archived from the original on 19 April 2005..
  24. ^ a b Included on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories.
  25. ^ "Regions of Georgia". Statoids. 30 November 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  26. ^ "Sanakoev Appointed as Head of S.Ossetia Administration". Civil.ge. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 14 March 2008.
  27. ^ "Departments of Greece". Statoids. 1 September 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  28. ^ "The World's Working Regional Autonomies, Thomas Benedikter". Anthem Press. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  29. ^ "Provinces of Iraq". Statoids. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  30. ^ "Districts of Mauritius". Statoids. 8 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  31. ^ "Departments of Nicaragua". Statoids. 12 April 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  32. ^ "Panama Provinces". Statoids. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  33. ^ "Provinces of Papua New Guinea". Statoids. 1 June 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  34. ^ "Provinces of the Philippines". Statoids. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  35. ^ See section 3 and 4 about Nevis Island Legislature and Administration in The Saint Christopher and Nevis Constitution Order 1983. Published online by Georgetown University and also by University of the West Indies. Retrieved 8 August 2006.
  36. ^ "Sao Tome and Principe". Central Intelligence Agency. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  37. ^ "Somalia's regional states submit Upper House nominations". Somali Review. 10 October 2016. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  38. ^ "Jeju City". Galbijim. 8 April 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  39. ^ "Regions of Tajikistan". Statoids. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  40. ^ "Regions and territories: Zanzibar". BBC News. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  41. ^ "December 2005 report of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status" (PDF). pfraa.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009.
  42. ^ Doug Hertzler. "Debunking Myths Part II: Bolivia's Autonomy Initiatives". Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  43. ^ "5 departamentos se suman a la autonomía; Gran Chaco la primera región autónoma". eju.tv. 7 December 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  44. ^ "Las autonomías indígenas avanzan a paso lento per seguro, entre consensos e interrogantes" Diálogos en Democracia, 21 March 2010 (Supplement to Pulso Bolivia).
  45. ^ "Bosnia and Herzegovina Government". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  46. ^ "Autonomous Islands of Comoros". Statoids. 16 October 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  47. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183721/https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/about/moj/our-responsibilities/Background_Briefing_on_the_Crown_Dependencies2.pdf
  48. ^ Spanish (aka Castilian) is official in
  49. ^ Basque is official in the Spanish autonomous communities of Basque Country and Navarre.
  50. ^ Occitan is official in the Spanish autonomous community of Catalonia.
  51. ^ Catalan/Valencian is official in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, Balearic Islands Valencian Community.
  52. ^ Galician is official in the Spanish autonomous community of Galicia.
  53. ^ "DECRETO por el que se declaran reformadas y derogadas diversas disposiciones de la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, en materia de la reforma política de la Ciudad de México" [DECREE declaring reformed and repealed various provisions of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, regarding the political reform of Mexico City]. Diario Oficial de la Federación [Official Journal of the Federation] (in Spanish). 29 January 2016.
  54. ^ Pinduli, Irene; Spivacow, R; Del Valle, E; Vidal, S; Negri, AL; Previgliano, H; Farías Edos, R; Andrade, JH; Negri, GM (20 January 2006). "Prevalence of urolithiasis in the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, Argentina". Urological Research. 34 (1): 8–11. doi:10.1007/s00240-005-0003-7. PMID 16425020. S2CID 23228563.
  55. ^ a b "Provinces of Cambodia". Statoids. 13 May 2005. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  56. ^ "Prefectures of the Central African Republic". Statoids. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  57. ^ "Regions of Guinea-Bissau". Statoids. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  58. ^ "Jakarta". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Retrieved 25 February 2008.
  59. ^ "Regions of Uzbekistan". Statoids. 17 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2008.

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